We have had our older son David staying with us in Bukoba and it has been interesting to see this place through his eyes.

 He arrived at the town bus stand on the Bunda Bus from Mwanza on Monday to our continuing unseasonal rain.  It was a seven hour trip, for much of which he had a small child on his knee ‘helping’ him read his book – the passenger in the next seat had given the little girl to David to hold when she alighted for a ‘comfort stop’ early in the trip and then had failed to repossess her until Bukoba!

Our town’s streets are not all paved and those that are are only sealed in the middle so we waded through the mud back to our car, David carrying his heavy backpack.  As always, our (lack of) colour was noted by many who greeted us with “Mzungu”.  David came in for extra attention with his long, blonde curls.

We’d been cogitating for several weeks about what we would do with David while he was here – Where we would take him? What we should show him?  He said he had no expectations for his stay – he just wanted to see us and a monkey.  He was also pleased to unload his backpack which was full of goodies for us – the vegemite and DVDs were especially welcome – that he’d carted around Dubai and Al Ain.

As it turned out our plans for expeditions into the country side and walks around town to see real life in Bukoba district were stymied by the rain, and we couldn’t even produce a monkey all week when normally a day rarely goes by when we don’t see one somewhere. (David is sceptical of this claim!)  We did take him on our favourite drive over the Kyanyabasa ferry and back over the Ibwera bridge and he saw what looked like an honour guard of 4 and 5 year olds – orphans from an ELCT home near Lake Ikimba who were lining the road in the rain waiting for something exciting and were happy to see us!  David now knows how it feels to be Royalty.

We also sampled the Bukoba hospitality industry and David has firm views on how it could be improved – he sat flabbergasted as our order took 15 minutes to get from the waiter to the kitchen in one restaurant and he found the lack of correspondence between what was ordered and what arrived amusing at another but, as always, after the long wait we either don’t remember or don’t care and are grateful to have any food especially as the ferry departure time was approaching!  He may come back to Tanzania to volunteer in a Vocational Training College and show the students how a kitchen should be run.

David left on the ferry to Mwanza on Friday night and will have nearly a week on Zanzibar during which time he hopes he will finally see a monkey.  Then he’ll return to a hopefully dried out Brisbane.

We were a bit ‘flat’ after he left – we don’t often get homesick but we do miss family and friends (and you could all e-mail more often!!) but a trip out to Katoke on Sunday unearthed a new ‘life list’ bird for Steve and a monkey so all was again right with the world!

Book Update:  My book is now with the printer.  I will let you all know of progress.  Thank you to all the generous people who have supported its production!